Aloha,

> what would you guys recommend <

I rarely recommend gear, and especially mikes and speakers, so I won't tell you that I favor Mackie HR-824s in that price range. :D

> the lower bass response seemed excessive and kind of loose. <

This is always much more a function of room acoustics, and a lack of bass trapping, than the particular loudspeakers you're using.

--Ethan

Originally posted by Ethan Winer:
This is always much more a function of room acoustics, and a lack of bass trapping, than the particular loudspeakers you're using.

I don't know about that. We're talking about Alesis Monitor 1's here. Harsh highs and loose bass is basically their trademark.

You could almost get some Dynaudio BM6A's for that price. They're a little more pricy than the HR824's, but I think they're worth every penny. Next step up from that would be something from ADAM, but then you're well out of your price range.

I used to have a pair of alesis monitor 1 s and found it very hard to get a good mix on. I do mostly R&B & couldn't get any bass definition. On other monitor speakers my first few tracks sounded too dense in the midrange with overly bright thin snares - bass wooden and dead. - they sounded slightly better with the rear ports stuffed with a polystyrene cup!
I got used to them tho & then soon after got rid of them when I heard some K-ROKs

Nikko,

> loose bass is basically their trademark. <

Agreed. Years ago a friend of mine had a pair of the original Monitor 1s and I was surprised at how bad they sounded. I was mainly addressing the general case of sloppy sounding bass, which is always improved greatly with proper treatment.

--Ethan

I currently use the Alesis MK-II's. I have "learned" to use them. I feel they don't translate bass very well to other sources, and am tired of burning 10 reference CD's during mixdown just to verify on other systems.

However, in their defense, you can't expect much from a $399/pair of reference monitors.

I have been investigating a change, and have chosen the Event ASP-8's over both the Mackie 824's and the Genelec 1030's.

I haven't received the Event's yet, so I can't yet comment on their performance in my room, but they are "street priced" towards the lower end of your budget.

Edward Bolda
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.fetzir.c…"]Spyder Byte Studios[/]="http://www.fetzir.c…"]Spyder Byte Studios[/]

For a lot less cash, I was very impressed with Yamahas MSP5's while I had them here for review. these little speakers have amazing low end for their size (flat down to 50Hz) which is perfect for all but the best designed home studios and had a balance that was very close to my much larger and more expensive Tannoy 12's..

I am currently evaluating the Yamaha MSP10's and I will say I actually liked the 5's a bit better.. The MSP10’s actually sound a bit more like the NS10s did.. not exactly but very close..

I use some old (ca. 1963) Altec Lido's. They are a dual eight configuration. There is one Altec 755 and one 403? in them. I found them in the parking lot of a flea market for 10 bucks. They are retardedly efficient and quite flat and smooth. No bass though. These speakers are home to me. I'm a real odd-ball, I guess. :d:

I went through the same issues with trying to pick out some monitors lately. I decided to bite the bullet and spend a bit more than I was first prepared to figuring I could always send them back if I wasn't happy. I got some Adams and have absolutely no regrets. The pain of spending the money only hurts for a short time while the joy of mixing on them should last you the rest of your life.